Residents still entitled to rent assistance

There are three groups of pensioners who may continue to be eligible for rent assistance following 1 October 1997. These groups are:

• pensioners residing in nursing homes or hostels that are not approved facilities under the Aged Care Act 1997 (see What is an Approved Facility below);
• pensioners who are residing in a nursing home or hostel but who are not approved care recipients (ie are not receiving Commonwealth Government subsidised care).  For instance, a person may be residing in a nursing home or hostel to be near to their partner who is receiving care (known as co-habitees) or a person may be in a multi purpose service (MPS) unit; and
• pensioners residing in an approved facility but who receive accommodation only, require no care and therefore are not receiving Commonwealth Government subsidised care.